Increasing diversity a challenge for Worcester Police Dept.

Monday

Mar 4, 2013 at 6:00 AMMar 4, 2013 at 4:29 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Economic constraints, including the loss of police supervisor positions and the streamlining of the Police Department to handle those losses, have played into the department's inability to promote more minority officers.

One of the goals of Police Chief Gary J. Gemme when he became chief in October 2004 was to have more minority officers promoted to higher ranks. There was one minority supervisor when the chief took over, and since that time three more minority officers have achieved the rank of sergeant.

While the chief clearly didn't want to take more than 10 years for more minority officers to achieve higher ranking positions within the Police Department, he said that anticipated attrition and a sample of test scores over the past several years show that more minority officers will be promoted around 2015.

“We looked at three promotional exams (2004, 2006 and 2008) and we know that the minority officers outperformed the non-minority officers consistently,” Chief Gemme said. “We know there is clearly the potential to increase diversity in the ranks through the normal Civil Service process. The challenge that we are seeing is that since 2009 we've had a significant reduction in the number of police officials.”

The department has 83 officials ranked captain, lieutenant or sergeant. All the minority officers above the rank of patrolman — four — are sergeants. The number of sergeants has decreased from 59 to 52 in recent years.

The department studied the promotional exam test results of minority officials while reviewing civil actions against the city and department by Officers Spencer Tatum and Andrew Harris. Those two officers passed the police sergeant exams in 1992 and 1994 and were never promoted. Their civil actions claim they should have been promoted under a binding Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Agreement the city signed in 1998 with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. MCAD has ordered the city to promote the two African-American officers retroactively.

Officers Tatum and Harris were also among a group of African-American and Hispanic police officers challenging the state-created Civil Service promotional exam in federal court, claiming that the test is biased against minorities.

Chief Gemme could not comment on pending litigation, but pointed to the department study showing minority officers from Worcester are doing well on the promotional exams.

Economic constraints pushed the number of supervising officers down, and now the department is streamlined to work within that number. Chief Gemme said if he lost a supervisor he would request that position to be filled.

“The opportunity in the short term has been very limited,” the chief said.

From now to 2015 there will be at least five openings in the sergeant and lieutenant ranks, and one or two for captain.

“There will be potential for minority representation in the higher ranks,” Chief Gemme said.

The chief believes the cost of taking the exam — $250 — is also a barrier. It is an expense paid by the employee.

The department continues to reach out to the different ethnic groups within the city to increase the number of minority officers who could be candidates for supervisor positions.

Sgt. Miguel A. Lopez, the first Latino supervisor in the Police Department's history, said the department continues to develop recruitment efforts aimed at widening the pool of recruits to take the entrance exam.

“Whether you are a nonprofit or a government agency, you run more efficiently when you reflect the community you are serving,” said Sgt. Lopez, who is also the department's affirmative action officer.

There are continuing efforts to reach out to the Latino, Hispanic, African-American and Asian communities in the city. Having the community comfortable with officers is an important factor in resolving issues, helping residents and handling calls.

The current class of city police recruits is a blend. Nine recruits are white, six are Hispanic, one is African-American and another is Asian.

Recruits Rebecca Aguilar, 23, of Worcester and Jose Rodriguez, 25, of Worcester know the importance of having a diverse police department. Mr. Rodriguez quickly pointed out that the recruit class has people with Brazilian and Ghanaian backgrounds.

“I knew, being Hispanic, that I can connect with different people within the community,” Ms. Aguilar said.

While both are beginning their careers, they have thought about the possibility of moving up in the ranks. Having a more diverse workforce is something that is seen nationwide, Mr. Rodriguez said.

“That is where the future is headed. We are going to have more minorities in higher positions, not just in the police department, but all over the world,” he said. “You've seen it with our president and government in general.”

Contact Scott J. Croteau at scroteau@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ScottCroteauTG